Friday in Canada proved tricky for McLaren, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ending FP1 and FP2 in positions lower than they would have preferred. The 2025 F1 season has seen a positive start for the McLaren drivers, with them sitting in P1 and P2 in the World Drivers’ Championship, and McLaren leading the Constructors’ Championship.
In the first Free Practice session of the weekend at the F1 Canadian GP, P7 was the best Norris could achieve, while P14 was the best Piastri could manage. The McLaren drivers usually end Free Practice sessions in the top four, this weekend bringing home understandably shocking results.
Upgrades brought to the F1 Canadian GP
McLaren have brought three upgrades into the Canadian GP weekend. Despite this, Norris claims that the difference is not noticeable, and if it truly is there, he would need more races to feel it. The unique layout and make up of Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve makes it trickier to pin point whether the upgrades are working also.
Norris has declared Friday in Canada as one of the toughest days he and McLaren have faced so far this season. He feels he was only able to put together one good lap in Free Practice 1, and declares that work needs to be done.
“[They feel] pretty similar, honestly, but I think it’s more it’s hard to say just from one track,” the British driver stated. “I think you have to go to many more, especially here it’s quite unique with the amount of bumps and kerbs and low grip that we have.
“So a bit too early to tell, but all of the things are aiming to move the car in the right direction and give me more feeling, which is a good thing. But I would say a tricky day, probably one of the trickiest we’ve had this year.
“A little bit off the pace comparing to some of the others, and maybe it didn’t look it at the end but [it was] just difficult to ever put a lap together and be consistent – I did one good lap the whole session. We have some work to do.”
Is Norris struggling with the track or car?
With lower than expected finishing positions in Free Practice 1, Norris has weighed up whether the issue is the track or the car. While the Brit can admit that the track is difficult with a lack of grip, he also acknowledges that the car isn’t where he would like it to be.
“I think we need to get the car in a better place. It’s been our most difficult and everyone’s in the same boat on the track.
“The track’s difficult but it’s definitely been our worst Friday of the year, I would say so far – not worst in the pace, but most difficult to put together and most tricky. We’re not miles away, just need to make it a little bit easier to drive.”
Displaying self-awareness, Norris also acknowledged that despite his despair with the car, McLaren are still performing well overall. In Free Practice 2, George Russell led Norris by less than three hundreths, with Piastri finishing down in P6.
This has led to Norris’ understanding that the McLaren isn’t slow; other teams are simply becoming quick. Finishing position for Free Practice sessions doesn’t necessarily have any impact on a driver’s weekend, so disappointment over finishing P2, is truly disappointment over not being P1.
“I think we’re still in a good position, it’s just that it’s close – there’s all the teams up there.
“Mercedes now seem very, very quick, just as they were last year here – they were quite easily the best last year. We expected them to be fast, they proved that today.
“But I’m complaining that I’m not first really! We’re still there or thereabouts, it’s just trying to simplify things a little bit, trying to make the car a bit easier to drive. We’ll be there or thereabouts, at the minute I wouldn’t say we’re the quickest but you never know.”
Piastri remains unworried ahead of F1 Canadian GP qualifying and race
Despite Norris’ deep-rooted concerns over Friday, his teammate Piastri remains largely impartial. While the Australian can admit that FP2 ended better than FP1, he is quick to see that his competitors are close on his tail.
Piastri, like his teammate, found the day tricky, and admits that improvements should be made. He remains confident that Saturday will fare better for the team, especially as they figure out tyre usage. There are no alarm bells ringing for Piastri at current.
“It definitely ended better than it started, but I think still some improvements to try and make.
“It’s been a little bit of a tricky day, just trying to find the right window of the car. I think we’re getting there but we still need to find a bit more.
“The competition looks close, also just knowing what tyres to use is an interesting discussion at the moment, so I’m sure we’ll see how we can find a bit more tomorrow.
“I think we made a good step from FP1 to FP2, and just need to try and make the same step again, I guess. No alarm bells, just trying to get the car in a better window and get me in a better window.”
